Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows (2011) - 7 stars out of 10

Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows (2011) - 7 stars out of 10

Holmes has finally met his match in "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows."  While the film falls short of the first one by trying to replicate the equation that made its predecessor a success, the film finds strength in its villain, Dr. Moriarty.  The first film makes it seem that Holmes can outwit any diabolical villain, but what would happen if he was faced with his intellectual equal?  This story is a mind game, which is why there was just too much video game-esque fighting.  I do love the action in these films and the train sequence was particularly awesome, but too many "visual thought processes" and far-fetched survivals made me wish for a more intellectual approach.  That being said, Robert Downey Jr. brings the perfect amount of humor and grit to the role of Holmes without going over the top, Jude Law is again his perfect  compliment, and Noomi Rapace was some good eye candy that will hopefully be back in the third installment.  Jared Harris didn't blow my mind or anything, but the writers created an awesome villain in Moriarty.  If you liked the first one, you will like "A Game of Shadows" (this time getting to visit Paris!!!), but I hope that they treat the next Holmes movie with a little more consideration toward the deductive aspect of the detective.